As a Reform congregation, we do use a bit of Hebrew in our services and in our daily life. Below are common Hebrew you might hear.
Greetings
Transliteration | Meaning | Hebrew | Usage |
Shalom or Shalom lekha | Peace. Peace to you. |
שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם לְךָ |
As a common greeting equivalent to “hello” or “goodbye” “Good day” |
Shalom aleikhem | Peace to you. | שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם | As a common greeting equivalent to “hello” or “goodbye” “Good day” |
Shabbat shalom | Good Sabbath | שַׁבַּת שָׁלוֹם | The greeting made on the Sabbath. Some may also say “Good Shabbos” or ‘Gut Shabbos” (Yiddish) |
Chag same’ah | Joyous holiday | חַג שָׂמֵחַ | Used for any holiday occasion |
L’Shanah tovah or Shanah tovah | To a good year | לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה | Greetings around Rosh Hashanah |
Mazel tov | Good Luck or Congratulations | מַזָּל טוֹב | For joyous occasions, especially childbirth, betrothal, wedding, bar-mitzvah, etc.… |
Hebrew during prayers:
Transliteration |
English |
Hebrew |
Avoteinu |
Our Fathers |
אֲבוֹתֵינוּ |
Adam |
Man | אָדָם |
Ahava | Love | אַהֲבָה |
Or | Light | אוֹר |
Ehad | One | אֶחָד |
Ein | There is Not | אֵין |
Imru | Let Us Say | אִמְרוּ |
Emet | Truth | אֱמֶת |
Eretz | Land/Country | אֶרֶץ |
Asher | That/Which/Who | אֲשֶׁר |
Atah | You | אַתָה |
Beit | House | בֵּית |
Ben | Son | בֶּן |
B’nai | Children/People | בְּנֵי |
Barukh | Blessed | בָּרוּך |
Gadol | Big/Great | גָדוֹל |
Dor | Generation | דוֹר |
Hu | He | הוּא |
Vaed | Forever | וָעֶד |
Z’man | Time | זְמַן |
Hayim | Life | חַיִים |
Hesed | Kindness | חֶסֶד |
Tov | Good | טוֹב |
Y’hee | May It Be | יְהִי |
Yom | Day | יוֹם |
Kavod | Honor/Respect | כָּבוֹד |
Kee | Because/Since | כִּי |
Kamokha | Like You | כָּמוֹךָ |
Kein | Yes | כֵּן |
Katuv | Written | כָּתוּב |
Lo | No | לֹא |
L’maan | For the Sake of | לְמַעַן |
L’fanekha | Before You | לְפָנֶיךָ |
Magen | Shield | מָגֵן |
Mah | What | מַה |
M’hayeh | Gives Life | מְחַיֵה |
Mee | Who | מִי |
Mayim | Water | מַיִם |
Melekh | King | מֶלֶךְ |
Norah | Awesome | נוֹרָא |
Olam | World/Eternity | עוֹלָם |
Am | People | עַם |
Oseh | Make | עוֹשֶׂה |
Kadosh | Holy | קָדוֹשׁ |
Kol | Voice | קוֹל |
Rahamim | Mercy | רַחֲמִים |
Ratzon | Will | רָצוֹן |
Shemo | His Name | שְׁמוֹ |
Shamayim | Heavens | שָׁמַים |
Tamid | Always | תָמִיד |